My Mum was aged 33, with me (3) and my sister (just a few months old).
He maxed out their credit cards
The baillifs came round
He told her repeatedly she was too skinny and didnt wear enough make-up
He put her down in front of people
He put her down in private
He would scream and shout when my sister cried at night: "Won't you shut that fucking baby up!"
He had affairs with 18, 19, 20 year olds he met down the pub
He bought a motorbike with money that was meant for the household
He kicked in doors
He actually screwed one of his squeezes in my Mum's father's house when he was out of town
Luckily my Mum had always carried on working.
But she worried how she was going to manage. Money was tight. She didnt want to be alone and she didnt want us to grow up without a father.
Still, aged 33, she left.
Life was hard and money was tight.
Three years passed. She met a man. He turned into my stepdad. They had my brother. He raised and loved us like his own. He took us from the rough side of Liverpool into an expat life where we wanted for nowt.
Be brave women. It may seem insurmountable but you can do it.
My birth father never paid a single penny of child support. Ive seen him a couple of times in my life. Last time I saw him he was a cokehead in Manchester. Now he's in his 50s, there are less 18 year olds who want to sleep with him. My Mum could have still been there. But shes not, and thank fuck. Dont worry how your children will cope with you leaving. If they have love, they're more resilient than you can imagine.
Do it.